First Check > Stories
29
Jun

    Challenges and strategies in combatting health misinformation in the Philippines – An Excerpt From First Check’s Coffee Table Book

    • John Aloyzeus Reotutar / 4 weeks
    • 0
    • 3 min read

    In the Philippines, misinformation runs rampant, from dubious medical claims about cancer to unfounded conspiracy theories, especially exacerbated by the pandemic. As a fact-checker addressing medical misinformation, I see that the landscape poses unique challenges. Fact-checkers, especially those focused on health, often encounter resistance and accusations when debunking false claims promoted by companies peddling questionable health products. This backlash stems from a complex interplay of commercial interests and public perception. 

    Xeroderma pigmentosum
    28
    Jun

      Fact-check: Xeroderma pigmentosum does not cause one’s skin to melt

      • John Aloyzeus Reotutar / 1 year
      • 0
      • 2 min read

      XP affects the body’s ability to repair DNA damage caused by UV radiation from the sun. However, it does not cause dramatic changes in the skin as claimed on social media. A Facebook post claims that people in a village in Araras, Brazil, “melt away” due to a disease called Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). The post […]

      pandemic
      01
      Jun

        Fact-Check: Bill Gates hasn’t scheduled the next pandemic in 2025

        • John Aloyzeus Reotutar / 1 year
        • 0
        • 2 min read

        SEERS is a fictitious disease created for a pandemic-simulating exercise that was held in Brussels, Belgium, in October 2022. The next pandemic will hit us in 2025, claim several social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The videos warn that an infection called Severe Epidemic Enterovirus Respiratory Syndrome (SEERS) will cause a public health […]

        06
        Feb

          First Check Diaries by John Aloyzeus Reotutar

          • John Aloyzeus Reotutar / 1 year
          • 0
          • 2 min read

          Once a victim of health misinformation, I know from my own experience that it can lead to grave mistrust and negatively impact public health. Even before the pandemic, health misinformation has been a serious challenge in the Philippines. Whether it’s the proliferation of fake news and false information on social media platforms or misleading advertisements […]

          04
          Apr

            ‘Scientific research must be easy to find & share’

            • John Aloyzeus Reotutar / 2 years
            • 0
            • 2 min read

            As the fight against COVID-19 continues, the scientific community is fighting another battle too – the infodemic. This fight can be won only if trusted medical institutions and healthcare practitioners join forces. By John Aloyzeus Reotutar We live in a world where anti-vaxxers, quack doctors, and conspiracy theorists seem to thrive. Making an attempt to […]